<h1>The Tapadas Limenas</h1>

Tapada Lima, was the name used to refer to women of Lima, at the time of the Viceroyalty of Peru and the first years of the Republic. It was named so, because such women, clogged their heads and faces with rich silk shawls called "skirt and cape, exposing only one eye.

Its use began from the XVI century (1560) and extended well into the nineteenth century (1860), ie, its use was extended for three centuries or three hundred years and not only confined to the Kings, but also other major cities in the region. At Lima, the habit remained until well into the Republic, when French fashions.

It is believed that the use of the mantle skirt and pair of distinctive clothing of the stuffy Lima Lima appeared in 1560. On their origin has been told it is a Moor, by the undeniable similarities that are in the costumes that cover the body of Muslims, but on this there is no conclusive evidence. The first official testimony dealing with the clothes were not very kind to their users:

"It has come to such an extent the use of women covered walk, which have proved so great offenses to God i notable damage to the republic, because that form does not recognize the father's daughter or the husband to wife or brother to sister ... "

Many were the ordinances after this act of the Parliament of 1586, but none could deter many prohibitions Lima and perhaps officers were the reason for his long, rugged use.

The characteristic of the stuffy dress connoted innuendo, flirtation, and seduction game ban. However, there was still a dress: the skirt outlining the hips and the mantle covering the head and face, except, of course, a single eye. After the mantle might inhabit a toothless grandmother and a one-eyed woman bitten by smallpox. The possibilities were many and many must have been occasions when gallant boys or dirty old men "compliments lavished by wives, sisters, stepmothers, mothers and daughters that they could hide their true identity behind the robes.

The skirt was a big silk skirt and long, blue, brown, green or black. To ensure you are wearing a belt that hugged the woman's waist. No wonder some less graceful artificial hips will use that exaggerated their natural gifts. Underneath this skirt, you could see the tiny foot (shoes with an embroidered satin shoe) which also made famous the old Lima. The mantle was also silk, tied at the waist and climbed back to cover head and face, exposing only one eye and perhaps arms.


The Lima covered were an icon of the old Lima, an original presence that did not exist in no other city in Latin America. The game hint, the symbol of secrecy, perhaps of an emerging female freedom, caught the attention of visitors who passed through the capital city during the three hundred years that the suit was used. In the nineteenth century were painted by Frenchman Leonce Angrand and the mulatto Lima Pancho Fierro and staged by Manuel Ascencio Segura in his satirical work "The skirt and cloak."

Contrary to the opinion of some specialists, the stuffy fashion Lima was not as resistance to change and adherence to tradition comfort denote stability that allowed the gossip, intrigue and other customs Lima. However, after three hundred years of existence, the stuffy was disappearing and 1860, fashion had moved to French-style gown and mantle, used for the trunk of memories.

Thus ended a tradition for three centuries gave the women of Lima distinctive attire was no other city in Latin America.


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